Apparatus for reproducing phonograms.



No. 705,772. Patented July 29, |902.

W. F. MESSER. Y

APPARATUS'FR REPRODUGING PHUNOGBAMS.

(Application led Feb. 1," 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. MESSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TC THE LAMBERTCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.`

APPARATUS FOR RE-PRDUCIING PHONO-G RAM S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,772, dated July 29,1902. Application filed February 1,1902- Serial Nm 92,110. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern;- v

Be it known that I, WILLIAM' F. MESSER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forReproducing Phonograms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus by which duplicatephonographic records in any desired number may be iliade, andparticularly to the production of what are termed indestructible recordsor .rec`

of the base and head, so as to sealthe'pres` sure-chamber whilepressureis being applied to force the record-cylinder `against the ma` trix andhold the record-cylinder suiiiciently outof intimate contact with thematrix at each end to permit the escape of air from between the ends ofthe record-cylinder and matrix until the entire outer surface ofthecylinder has been pressed against the innerV base,`"connect surface ofthe matrix. 4

Other objects will appear from an inspection of the drawingand thefollowing description and claims.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical side elevation in sectionof one style of an apparatus constructed in accordance with myimprovements.

In constructing a machine in accordance with my improvements and usingthe same I provide a matrix a of the desired size, shape, and strengthand which is preferably formed in the manner shown and described inPatent No. 645,920, issued to Thomas B. Lambert.

March 20, 1900. The nfatrix is in the form of a hollow cylinder open atboth ends and is provided on its inner surface with soundrecordindentations--that is to say, it has :negative indentationscorresponding to those upon the original sound-Arecord-so that when therecord-blank receives the imprint of the inner surface of the4 matrix itbecomes a duplicateof the original or master record. This matrixisplaeed in an upright position upon a base b, which forms a closure forone end of the matrix, the natural irregularities of the end of thematrix and surface of the base forming anoutlet sufficient to permit theair to escape from between the blank record and matrix. The matrix issurrounded by an encircling metallic shell c, between which andthecmatrix a backing 8, of plaster-of-paris or similar material, isplaced for holding the lmatrix in place and affording the desired andnecessary rigidityand strength to withstand the pressuresincident to itsoperative use. A'movable headportion d is provided and mounted abovethematrix by means of a stem f, extending therefrom through a bearing g ina stationary head e. The stem of the movable head may be integraltherewith or connected thereto, as shown, by suitable means, such asthelug g upon the head, fitted into a slot or notch It in the stem and heldin place fin such stem by a set-screw t, connecting the lug and` stem. Atransverse perforation j is made inthe stem of the movable head adaptedto receive a wedge It, which contacts with the stationary head, andthereby holds the stem and movable head in the desired position withrelation to the matrix. A rigid standard Zand bottom portion m, bothpreferably integral with the stationary head and such head and base andhold them in fixed rigid relation to each other and should be ofsufficient strength to holdthe movable head in position against thepressure to be applied between such head and base. The movable head ismade of such diameter as to leave a space n between it and the matrixwhenboth are in operative position, thus permitting the air to escapefrom between the v record-blank and. the matrix when pressure isappliedto the inner side of the recordblank. By this arrangement achamber is formed between the matrix,the movable head, and the base,which chamber is provided with vents n and n' at the top and bottom ofthe matrix. A blank record-cylinder o, of celluloid or similar material,is then placed within the chamber with its respective ends in contactwith the head and base. An inner pres- IOO sure-chamber p is thus formedbetween the record-cylinder and the head and base portion, which is orbecomes hermetically sealed upon the admission of steam under pressurethereto, as hereinafter described. It is desirable to first soften therecord-cylinder, so that it may be expanded against the recordsurface ofthe matrix. In order to accomplish this, a heated iiuid, preferablysteam under about fifty pounds pressure to the square inch, is forcedinto the record-chamber through a pressure-supply pipe q, which islconnected by means of a branch pipe r with a suitable source ofsteam-supply. The steam is permitted to escape through an eX- haust-pipes, connected with the outer air by means of a pipe t. The steam is keptat a substantially uniform pressure within the record-chamber, so as toby means of its peculiar heating qualities and other actions soften therecord and force it out against the inner indented surface of thematrix. After this has been accomplished the steam-supply is shut olf bymeans of a valve u, and a snpply of cold air under pressure is permittedto enter through the supply-pipe g by opening the valve c on a secondbranch pipe w, which connects with a source of cool air under pressureand keeps up as great or a greater pressure than before. A valve y onthe exhaustpipe may be left open, so that all moisture and steam areblown out of the cylinderformed by the record. When the steam has beenblownout, the next step is to close the valve y and permit cool airunder pressure to remain in the record-chamber until such blank recordis sufficiently cooled and hardened.

Thus cooled and shrunk it is easily removedV without collapsing.

As shown in the drawings, the recordcyl inder is for many purposespreferably made with internal end lianges 2 and 3, and when thinmaterial is used, as above suggested, such iianges are softened as wellas the body of the record by the admission of steam under pressure. Whensteam under pressure is admitted, they are immediately softened andforced against the head on one end and the base on the other, and someof the fluid under pressure naturally escapes around such end before thehermetical seals are formed. If this liuid under pressure is not takencare of immediatelythat is, permitted to escape from all contact withthe record-surface--or if it is allowed to get between the record andthe matrix, there is great danger of the surface of the phonogram beingeither destroyed or so impaired that it is of little or no value. Itbecomes necessary, therefore, to provide means by which all fluid, suchas air or steam, outside of the hermetically-sealed chamber may beimmediately permitted to escape and that the end flanges be hermeticallysealed to the head and base as quickly and firmly as possible. In orderto accomplish these re sults', the head portion is provided withperforations 4, arranged in a circle adjacent to the inner edge of ther'ecord and at the desired distance from its outer edge. An annulargroove 5 is thus provided in the inner surface of the head, into whichthe perforations open. In the same manner as labove described inconnection with the head and for the same purposes with relation to theopposite end iiange and base portion perforations 6 and an annulargroove 7 are provided in the inner surface of the base portion. By meansof these perforations in the head and base, in connection with the otherelements described, when fluid under pressure, such .as steam, isadmitted to the pressure-chamber formed Within the record-cylinder itfollows the path of least resistance and presses toward the perforationsin the head and base, carrying the adjacent anges of the recordcylinderwith it, pressing them tightly in place against the end walls or baseand head, and forming a sealed chamber. The perforations being left openthroughout the opera tion of completing the record, the flanges are thusheld in position to prevent the escape of steam or other fluid from thechamber within the record-cylinder by forming a sealed connectionbetween the record-cylinder and the head and base. It should beunderstood, however, that the perforations in the' head and base shouldonly be sufficiently large to permit the desired yielding of therecordblank and prevent the escape of the fluid by blowing a puncturethrough the material of which the iiange is formed. I find in practicethat perforations one-ftieth of an inch in diameter serve the purpose.An annular space one five-thousandth of an inch wide is sufficientbetween the head and matrix to permit the air to escape from between therecordcylinder and matrix and may be formed by either making the head ofsuch diameter as to leave a sufficient space or by holding the head asufficient distance from the matrix to leave a space of the desiredsize. I prefer, however, to employ a head of smaller diameter than theinner diameter of'the matrix. It will be also readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the annular groove in either the head or basewould operate with more or less success to hold the end anges andthereby the ends of the record-cylinder in place with one vent orperforation communicating with such groove; but I prefer to employ aplurality of perforations or Vents.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix,a base portion at one end thereof arranged to contactwith the end of a blank record-cylinder, and a head portion arranged incontact with the other end of the record-cylinder and provided withoutlet means communicating with the inner surface of such head andextending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, substantially asdescribed.

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cylindricalmatrix,a base IOO I IO

portion at one end thereof arranged to contact with the end of a blankrecord-cylinder and provided with outlet means communieating with theinner surface'of such base and extending to the outer surface of suchrecordcylinder, and a head portion arranged in contact With the otherend of the blank recordcylinder, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged tocontact with the end of a blank record-cylinder and provided Withperforations extending through such base and communicating with theinner surface thereof, and a head portion arranged in contact with theother end of the blank record-cylinder and provided with perforations insuch head communicating with the inner surface thereof, substantially asde scribed.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged tocontact With the end of a blank record-cylinder ar ranged Within thematrix and provided With a groove in its inner surface and perforatedoutlet means through such base communicating with the groove,and a h eadportion arranged at the other end of the record-cylinder forming inconnection with the record-cylinder and base a pressure-chamber,substantially as de scribed.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged tocontact With the end of a record-cylinder and provided With a groove inits inner surface and with outlet means through such base communicatingwith such groove, and a head portion arranged in contact With the otherend of the record-cylinder and provided with a groove in its innersurface and with outlet means through such head communicating With thegroove, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged tocontact With the end of a blank record-cylinder, and a head portionarranged in contact with the other end of the blank record-cylinder andproviding an opening communicating with the inner surface of the matrixoutside of the record-cylinder and provided with perforationscommunicating with the inner surface 0f such head, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged tocontact with the end of a blank record-cylinder and provide a ventcommunicating With the inner surfaces of the matrix and provided withoutlet means communicating with the inner surface of such base andextending to the outer surface of such record-cylinder, and a headportion arranged in contact with the other end of the record-cylinder toform in connection with the record-cylinder and base a chamber Withinsuch record-cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion at one end thereof arranged tocontact with the end of a blank record-cylinder having inwardlyextending end flanges, a head portion arranged in contact with the inneriiange on the other end of the record-cylinder provided withperforations communieating with the inner surface of such head at pointsadjacent to the inner edge of such end iange and extending to the outersurface of such record-cylinder, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion arranged at the end thereof incontact with the end portion of a blank recordcylinder havinginwardly-extending flanges, such basek portion being provided withperforations communicating with the inner surface thereof at pointsadjacent to the inner edge of the end ange of the record-cylinder, and

a head portion arranged in contact with the opposite end of therecord-cylinder and the end flange thereon and provided withperforations through such head communicating with the inner surface ofthe head at points adjacent to the inner edge of such end flange,substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of acylindrical matrix, a base portion arranged at one end thereof incontact With the end of a blank record-cylinder and provided withperforations extending through such base and communicating With theinner surface thereof, a head portion arranged in contact with the otherend of the blank record-cylinder and provided with perforations in suchhead communicating With the space between it and the record-cylinder, aframe for holding the base in position, and means for admitting fluidunder pressure to the chamber formed Within the record-cylinder betweenthe base and head, substantially as described.

1l. In an apparatus of the class described, a movable headportion-adapted to close the end of a blank record-cylinder and providedWith perforations through such head portion communicating with the innersurface there of and extending to the outer surface of suchrecord-cylinder, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a base portion adapted toclose one end of a blank record-cylinder to be operated upon andprovided With perforations through such base portion communicating withthe inner surface thereof and extending to the outer surface of suchrecord-cylinder, substantially as described.

WILLIAM F. MESSER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS E. SHERIDAN, HARRY IRWIN CnoMnR.

IOO

